Report by Ed Donnelly from Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock

Thurles CBS 2-8
Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG (Cork) 1-10

Thurles CBS are back in to the semi-final of the Dr. Harty Cup after a gap of two years after a hard earned victory on Friday last over a Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG side which made them battle right to the final whistle.

Thurles were unbackable favourites with the bookies before this game but Harty Cup knockout games played in heavy conditions in January seldom follow the pre-match script.

This was a tough game played in good spirits as both sides battled for every ball as if their life depended on it. Blustery conditions were the order of the day and the cross-field wind favoured the Cork side in the first half. And what a start Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG produced as they found their scoring touch early and often. A brace of points from Donal Ó Conaing (1 free) and Adam Ó Donnabháin followed by a point by midfielder and Cork Senior Hurling panellist Dayne Ó Laoi put them in front by 0-5 to 0-0 after 8 minutes.

Thurles needed a score and though Jack Butler was denied a goal in the 11th minute following a good save by Donal Ó Conaing, the impressive Upperchurch-Drombane forward would not be denied a minute later when he latched on to a break following a Robbie Long delivery to raise a green flag. This was a crucial score as Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG seemed shell-shocked after such a good start. The teams traded points entering the second quarter before Butler found midfielder Billy McCarthy in space and the Thurles Sarsfields clubman made no mistake to score a second goal for Thurles and amazingly put them in front, 2-1 to 0-6 after 21 minutes. Drom & Inch sharpshooter Robbie Long added two points from play, the first an audacious effort from distance in to the teeth of the gale force wind and by the interval, Thurles CBS led by 2-4 to 0-7.

The pattern of play did not change in the early stages of the second half as the aerial ability of Thurles CBS full-forward came to the fore with two outstanding catches being converted in to points and the Tipperary side led by five points with 35 minutes on the clock. A one-sided second half looked on the cards as the Thurles dominance extended to most sectors. Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG had other ideas and when Dayne Ó Laoi's tame one handed effort somehow found its way past William Tierney for a goal, the Cork side were right back in to contention. Dayne Ó Laoi followed up with a point soon afterwards now Thurles led by the minimum, 2-6 to 1-8.

Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG had now deployed their full-forward Adam Ó Donnabháin to act as an additional defender and though Thurles CBS continued their dominance of possession, Ó Donnabháin defended heroically to cut off the supply to the inside forward line of Thurles. A nervous Thurles outfit now looked to find scores from long range but to the dismay of their mentors and supporters, hit 12 consecutive wides during a 20 minute second half barren spell to keep the Cork school in the game. Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG had chances to level the game during this period but were unable to register a score, seeing a couple of shots drop short against the wind.

The scoring drought finally ended ii the 55th minute as Jack Butler pointed to put Thurles two points up only to see Donal Ó Conaing convert a free within a minute. The exchanges were now frantic as the large crowd rose to support two committed teams in the search for victory. With a minute of normal time left, Niall Heffernan pointed a difficult free to put two points in it again. Donal Ó Conaing responded again with a free and as the game entered injury time, Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG put everything in to getting an equaliser and forcing extra time. In the 63rd minute, Evan Ó Síocháin won possession 45 metres from goal and though under pressure, went on a long solo run as the space opened up in front of him. Under pressure from Dillon Quirke and Cathal Moloney, the Cork forward rolled the dice and went for glory only to see his goalbound shot well saved by William Tierney in the Thurles goal. Seconds later the final whistle sounded and Thurles had secured victory by a solitary point.

After the final whistle, there was a short skirmish involving both teams which resulted in referee Richard Moloney brandishing a straight red card to Thurles CBS wing-back Ronan Heffernan who now looks set to miss the semi-final against the winners of Pobalscoil Na Tríonóide and Castletroy College.

Thurles CBS will be relieved to have gotten over the line in this game but made life oh so difficult for themselves with 15 second half wides (including 12 on the trot) and 20 wides altogether. Such inaccuracy if repeated in the semi-final will not suffice and is certainly an area for improvement for the Thurles mentors over the next 3 weeks ahead of the January 31st semi-final. For Thurles, most of their better players were in defence who all played well as a unit. Billy McCarthy hit a lot of ball at midfield while up front, Jack Butler and Robbie Long combined for 1-5 from play which proved crucial in a low scoring game. Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG were best served by Eadbhard Ó Conaing, Dayne Ó Laoi, Donal Ó Conaing and Adam Ó Donnabháin.

THURLES CBS: William Tierney (Thurles Sarsfields); Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Jack Derby (Thurles Sarsfields), Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); Jack Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Chris McCullagh (Moycarkey-Borris), Ronan Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields, 1-0), Cathal Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields); Ronan Teehan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole, Captain, 0-1), Kevin Duggan (Galmoy), Niall Heffernan (Moycarkey-Borris, 0-1 free); Brendan Kelly (Rathdowney-Errill, 0-2), Robbie Long (Drom & Inch, 0-2), Jack Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane, 1-2). Subs: Michael Connors (Drom & Inch) for Duggan (47), Matt Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Kelly (54, injured), Rory Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Teehan (60).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: D Ó Conaill (Na Piarsaigh); A Ó Súilleabháin (Glen Rovers), E Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Meara (Na Piarsaigh); A Breathnach (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Muireasa (Na PIarsaigh), E Ó Caoimh (Na Piarsaigh); L Ó Cochláin (Glen Rovers), D Ó Laoi (Na Piarsaigh, 1-3); C Ó hAinifín (Na Piarsaigh), E Ó Laoire (Na Piarsaigh), K Ó hEathairn (Na Piarsaigh); D Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh, 0-5, 0-4 frees), A Ó Donnabháin (Glen Rovers, 0-2), E Ó Síocháin (Na Piarsaigh). Subs: B Ó Ceallacháin (Na Piarsaigh) for Breathnach (24, injured), P de Faoite (Glen Rovers) for Ó hEathairn (half-time).

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

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